鈥淎n apple a day鈥︹�� is how the saying begins. Though probably not entirely accurate,
the phrase is a succinct illustration of the connection between diet and overall health.
It鈥檚 a lesson students in the first-year Culinary Medicine course at 黑料传送门 recently took out of the classroom and into the kitchen for a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to cook in front of some of the most renowned chefs in the country.
Inspired by the Food Network's TV game show, Chopped, and developed by Vetri Community Partnership, the pits the five students of 黑料传送门鈥檚 鈥淪calpels and Spatulas鈥� team against two other teams in a rapid-fire competition to create a nutritious, delicious dish from a basket of mystery ingredients. The 黑料传送门 team consisted of students Isabella Benitez-Enriquez (DO 鈥�25), Claire Berger (DO 鈥�25) Emily Baus (DO 鈥�25), Bridget McNierney (DO 鈥�25), and Dillon Gooder (DO 鈥�25).
The challenge put the teams鈥� time management skills and creativity to the test. Each
team was given 45 minutes to use their ingredients to prepare a dish that was graded
for taste, presentation, fundraising amount, and creativity by a panel of celebrity
judges, including James Beard Award Winner Marc Vetri, Iron Chef and James Beard Award
Winner Jose Garces, Chef and Activist Kurt Evans, and CBS Philadelphia feature reporter
Vittoria Woodill.
Led by Farzaneh Daghigh, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and co-director, the Culinary Medicine course teaches students that high-quality food based on the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent and treat chronic disease and restore well-being. 鈥淲e know that diet and overall health are inextricably linked,鈥� said Daghigh. 鈥淭his challenge put the lessons these students are learning into practice, all in support of a great cause.鈥� Joanne Kakaty-Monzo, DO, clinical professor, is also co-director, and Chef Budd Cohen instructs the Culinary Skills portion of the course.
Students also learn to be comfortable with evidence-based medical nutrition information
to care for future patients using a holistic approach. In addition, they learn to engage these topics through the lens of food equity and
insecurity.
For the "Diced" competitors, the buzzer sounded and the judges rendered their verdict, ultimately selecting as champions team 鈥淲ok This Way鈥� from the Junior League of Philadelphia. 鈥淎lthough we didn't win, the experience was unforgettable,鈥� said McNierney. 鈥淚 think our team really worked well together to produce a tasty dish鈥t definitely lived up to expectations in terms of how enjoyable the experience was.鈥� 鈥淚t will be a great story and fond memory for a long time鈥攅specially being able to say that Marc Vetri or Jose Garces complimented the flavors we created in our dish,鈥� added Berger.
All funds raised through the "Diced" challenge will support Vetri Community Partnership鈥檚 mission to empower kids and families to lead healthier lives through fresh food, hands-on experiences and education.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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